Tool-handle.



PATENTED APR. 7,1903. A. VHILMO.

TOOL HANDLE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

0v 6 WW NITED STATES PATENT g OFFICE.

ALFRED HILMO, OF VVAUKON, IOWA.

TOOL-HANDLE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,475, dated April 7,1903. Application filed November 7 1902, Serial No. 130,441. (No model)To all whont it Wtay concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED HILMO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wankon, in the county of Allamakee and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Handles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such. as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements intool-handles or the like; and it consists of certain novel features ofcombination and construction of parts, the preferred form whereof willbe hereinafter clearly set forth, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application. 7

The object of my invention, among others, is to provide simple thoughreliably efficient means for enabling the tools to be readily attachedin their operative position to.the handle and as easily removedtherefrom for the purpose of replacement or repair of said tools.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter made clearly apparent,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa perspective View showing my invention complete, the free end of thehandle being broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing a sideelevation of the extreme lower end of the handle. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal central section of the lower end of the handle and aportion of the shank of the tool clamped in position. Figs. 4 and 5 showother forms of construction which may be adopted in providing the clampfor the toolshank.

The various details of my invention and eleets or screws 5, as iscommon. The socket 2 is preferably made solid at its other end, and saidend is split transversely to provide the opening 6, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, whereby the branches 7 and S are separated from each other. Eachof the branches 7 and Sis provided at its outer end with aslightly-conical head provided with a threaded exterior 9, as shown, andupon this conical head I dispose the locking-nut or internally-threadedcollar 10', and when said collar is forced outward upon its conical seatit is obvious that the ends of the branches or members 7 and 8 will bedrawn tightly toward each other, and thereby firmly secure and clamp theshank 11 of the tool which may have been interposed in a properly-formedseat provided in the meeting faces ofsaid members 7 and S. It istherefore obvious that by moving the collar 10 outward upon the end ofthe members 7 and 8 by reason of the conical seat 9 above described theshank of the tool can be firmly locked in place, while a reversemovement of the collar will cause the ends of the members 7 and 8 tospring apart sufficiently to readily release the shank 11, when it maybe quickly replaced by a' new tool.

By the use of my improved securing device for tool-handles the samehandle may be employed for a variety of purposes, inasmuch asafork-shank may be readily removed and replaced by the shank of a rake,the same handle being found useful for such purpose. It is furtherobvious that a hoe-shank may be readily inserted in connection with thesame handle. 'It is further obvious that if any of the tines of a forkor rake should become broken such fork-0r rake may be bodily replaced atwill, thereby avoiding the necessity of purchasing an entire new handle,as is common.

By the use of my improved handle manufacturers placing the same upon themarket could supply each handle with a number of interchangeableattachments, thus fitting the handle for a variety of uses, as a rake,hoe, fork, or other tools of this class. i

In Figs. 4 and 5 the construction is substantially the same with theexception that the threaded conical seat 9 is removed and the member 12,which corresponds to the member 7 in Fig. 3, has secured to it a collarsary to release the shank 11 of the tool all I quickly renewed andreplaced, as hereinbethat is necessary to be done is to elevate the freeend of the handle 17 and bring the same substantially at right angles tothe plane of the fork-handle, when the cam-head will be elevated out ofengagement with the member 14 and permit the members 12 and 14 to springapart by their own tensile properties, and thereby release the shank,which may be fore explained.

vWhileI have shown that the separated me mbers 7 and 8 or 12 and 14maybe thus brought together into a locked position upon the shank of thetool, I desire to reserve the right to use either form of device whichin practice I may find most reliable and efficient.

While I have described the preferredcombination and construction ofparts necessary in providing a clamping means for the shank of a fork orother tools of this class, I wish to comprehend in this application allsubstantial equivalents and substitutes as may be considered as fallingfairly within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a suitable handle, of a socket secured thereto,said socket having at its other end separated spring clamping members; acollar operatively disposed upon the ends of said members; ears carriedby said collar and a cam-lever pivotally secured between said earswhereby the shank is secured or released, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ALFRED HILMO. Witnesses:

H. G. JOHNSON, E. 1). PURDY.

